Memorial service to be held in honor of the Dailey family

MONAVILLE — A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, June 9, by family and friends in remembrance of a mother and her children.

Melinda Dailey, along with her children Katelyn, Randy and Trey, perished in a house fire at Monaville in January 2009.

“Someone’s child, grandchild, niece, nephew, classmate and friend lost their life during this tragic fire and there have not been any answers as to why this happened,” Betty Conn, organizer of the memorial, said, “but it is such a shame that these beautiful people did not get a chance to see what God had in store for their lives.”

The fire, which also claimed the life of Dwayne Ellis, began early morning Thursday, January 31, 2009. The call to Logan firefighters came in at 5:03 a.m. and, according to Logan Fire Chief Scott Beckett, the house had fire venting from the roof by the time his crews and the Main Island Creek Fire Department firemen arrived on the scene.

Following an investigation by the West Virginia Fire Marshall’s Office, the fire was ruled suspicious and an arson investigation began.

The initial reward amount was $2,500, but the reward was recently raised to more than $5,000.

Logan County Sheriff Sonya Porter Dingess will be attending the memorial.

“This is a true tragedy that occurred,” Dingess said. “… the fire was suspicious in nature and law enforcement are working together diligently — the West Virginia State Police, the Logan Fire Department and us — to solve this incident that a whole family was lost in.”

Dingess said they need to get the information out that the case has not been solved.

“Just getting the information out that this case is not solved,” Dingess said. “Everybody wants it solved. The family is also raising funds try to get a conviction of the person or persons who was involved in this fire.”

Contributions to the Dailey Family Reward Fund can be made at LB&T (304-752-1166).

The reward will be given to anyone who can provide information for the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the deaths of the Dailey family.

Anyone with information can call any of the following numbers: 304-688-9256, 304-752-3553, the W.Va. Fire Marshall’s office at 1-800-233-3473 or the West Virginia State Police at 304-792-7200.

Again, the memorial will be held at the site of the fire (beside railroad crossing at Monaville) at Monaville at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, June 9.